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The Design and Use of a Simple Pseudo Random Pink-Noise Generator

The current high usage of frequency-equalized sound systems in the commercial sound and recording fields places increasing demands on the user-operator of the system to ensure that the overall system holds its designed value of spectral flatness during normal day-to-day operation. An inexpensive generator of pseudo random pink noise with adequate spectral purity is described which can be used as a stable known test source for quick on-site sound-system tests. The generated pink noise is accurate enough for use with an elaborate real-time spectrum analyzer (if available) for quantitative measurements or can be used for qualitative operator subjective measurements in the absence of other test equipment.